Ohio Budgets $995,000 to its Dangerous Wild Animals Act

Ohio Representative Ron Amstutz (R) introduced Ohio House Bill 483 on March 18, 2014 to make operating and other appropriations and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs. Out of its $2.38 billion appropriations bill, Ohio has budgeted $995,000 toward its ill conceived Dangerous Wild Animals Act. Of this amount, $800,000 is earmarked for the administration of its Dangerous and Restricted Wild Animal Permitting Program.

Governor Kasich’s Big, Expensive Blunder is now 487% over budget, and they are only three months into the program. Ohio voters, particularly those in Senator Balderson’s district, should pay attention.

Governor Kasich’s 2014-2015 budget cut $1.9M in taxes, shifting the tax burden from the affluent to middle- and lower-income families. It denies Medicaid funding to 275,000 low income workers, and Ohioans will foot the bill for oil and gas drilling. His education funding is $607M lower than it was in 2010-2011, and Ohio homeowners are losing their tax rollback on future new and replacement levies. But they have a $2.9M exotic animal penitentiary and $995,000 to spare on their over bearing, unnecessary permit system.